Baseball game apparatus



- Feb. 18, 1969 c. w. PULCIFER. 3,428,317

BASEBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed March 8, 1967 FIG. Z

,4 T RME/5 United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A`baseball game apparatus employing a board as a playing field withperipheral frame therearound and with the indicia designating a baseballdiamond adjacent one corner of the board; with depressions on saiddiamond designating the bases and home plate; with green areas appliedto said board covering infield and outfield, a die rolled by the pitcherto determine the nature of a ball thrown, including strikes, `balls andhits; an apertured disc slidably movable over said board, a cuealternately used by offensive and defensive players for sliding saiddisc and a three dimensional character movably positioned within thebase defining depressions of said diamond; there being a -plurality ofvariously colored areas applied to said diamond for designating basehits and outs Heretofore various types of game apparatus have beendefined entitled baseball games, however it is the object of the presentinvention to provide a novel form of game apparatus including a seriesof structural elements; namely, game lboard with frame, a die, a cue, amovable disc pushed by said cue by the players corresponding tooffensive and defensive sides to thus provide the baseball gamefollowing accurately the conventional playing rules of baseball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a baseball gameapparat-us which includes upon a board defining a playing field pluralareas of different colors and difierently demarked which upon sliding ofthe disc over the board and onto a particular area will designate thevarious plays found in conventional baseball, including `bunts, hits,and outs.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specificationand claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present game board.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cue as a part of the game apparatus.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 respectively show in perspective the disc, a threedimensional character corresponding to a base runner, and a die.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates a preferredembodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplatedwithin the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing the game apparatus includes the upright hollowsquare frame 1, which defines a fence enclosure. Upon the interior Wallof said frame there is provided an elongated undercut groove adapted tocooperatively receive the peripheral edges of the square Aboard 23,which is normally spaced below the upper edge of said frame defining aplaying field for a baseball game.

Indicia is applied to one corner area of the board defining baseballdiamond 27 including the elongated foul lines 14, there being a seriesof spaced depressions 16 formed in said board around said diamond and atthe corners thereof indicating home, first, second and third bases.

The playing field has applied thereto green colored areas 26 to definethe infield and outfield.

3,428,317 Patented Feb. 18, 1969 Outwardly of the diamond and formed ofL-shape is the yellow colored strip 11 which is diametrically spacedfllrpm the home plate of the diamond for designating a itl!! 4Generallyparallel to yellow strip 11 is a first L-shaped red strip 10 applied tosaid board and spaced outwardly from the said yellow strip. The secondL-shaped strip 3 also colored red is spaced outwardly from red strip 10and extends along and adjacent the frame 1 diametrically spaced fromsaid diamond, the said red strips designating out areas.

Additionally applied to the said hoard over certain areas of the playingfield are oval shaped areas of different sizes and which have a yellowcoloring applied thereto and with additional indicia designating one,two, three and four base hits if the slid disc stops thereover; andcolored red to designate a caught fly if the slid disc stops thereover.

Around a number of the oval shaped areas are peripheral borders coloredred as at 4, 6, and 8 to designate out if the slid disc shows some ofsaid border therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 1 a pair of oval areas 18 colored yellow and designatedwith small indicia 1', designate a safe bunt, area 19 colored reddesignates out and the smaller oval areas 20 colored red also designateout There are a pair of oval areas 5 colored yellow with indicia 1', todesignate a one base hit, the pair of oval areas 13 colored yellow andwith indicia 2 to indicate two base hits, the oval shaped areas 9colored yellow to indicate two base hits, the single oval shaped area 7with indicia 3 and colored yellow to indicate three base hit and thesingle oval shaped area 2 colored yellow and with indicia 4 to indicatea home run.

Outwardly on the board of the elongated -foul lines 14, which correspondand designate portions of the diamond 27 or extensions thereof areelongated strips along the adjacent sides of the frame 1 which arecolored green and which have applied thereto a series of small ovals 12colored red for designating fly out.

Applied to the board 23 adjacent home plate is indicia 17 defining thebatting area upon which the apertured disc 15 is selectively applied forpushing by the batter using the elongated cue 21 with round taperedpushing end 22 in a manner similar to a billiard cue.

The apertured disc 15 corresponds to the baseball used in the garne andis slid over the board 23 by the offensive and defensive players in amanner set forth in the detailed description and rules set outhereunder.

The base runner is designated by the three dimensional character 24which in the illustrative form is of cylindrical shape with flat ends.This base runner is applied selectively to any of the three pockets 16forming a part of the diamond 27 to show the position of the batter orbatters with respect to the three bases.

Completing the description of the apparatus there is employed a die 25of conventional form which is marked with indicia dots 1 to 6respectively.

The playing board may be of any size from 25" long on a side to 60 ormore. The board 23 is depressed with respect to the top edge of frame 1adapted to retain the slidable disc 15 within the confines of theplaying lield.

The playing field essentially is colored green as at 26, with theexception of certain L-shaped strips colored yellow and red, torepresent grass and for determining the nature of the play that has beenmade by a batter, who using the cue 21 pushes the disc 15 to try to makeit stop on a yellow area which would indicate a safe hit, 'but which ifit stops on any green area it means a ball which is in play. Thedefensive player will then 3 use the cue, attempt to slide the disc 15into the first base pocket 16 to make the out The two spaced red strips3 and 10 are used to designate when the disc 15 is slid to these areasas being that the hit ball has been caught by one fielding the ball tomake the batter out The other red spots on the board designated by thenumerals 12, 19 and 20 indicates that the batter is out if the discstops on them.

With the disc stopping upon the yellow strip 11 designates a single safehit. However the other yellow spots or areas of oval shape also indicatebase hits depending upon the indicia as, for example, areas 18-a bunt ora safe one base hit; areas 9--a safe two base hit; likewise areas 13 fora safe two base hit, area 7 for a three `base hit, and area 2 a homerun.

The narrow margins around the yellow base hit areas designated rednamely at 4, 6 and 8 respectively are provided so that if any red showsthrough the middle of the disc the batter is out In the illustrativeembodiment the foul line 14 designated with a white coloring tocorrespond to a cnventional baseball eld.

The designations 1 and 6 on die 25 on showing up upon rolling by thepitcher designate strikes; the spots 3 and 5 designate balls and thespots 2 and 4 indicate chances for a hit Baseball game rules The game isplayed as near like baseball as I can get it It does not take as manyplayers as does a real game.

If more than two wish to play they will field the ball 15 that comes intheir portion of the field 26, as the field can be proportioned to thosethat are going to play. The

fielding of the ball means to try to put the batter out by shooting thedisk, 15 into the first base pocket 16.

The pitching 1) A die 35 is used to determine the pitching.

(2) The one shaking the die will `be the pitcher.

(3) On the die if a (one) or (six) comes up it is called a strike.

l(4) If a (three) or (five) comes up, it is called a ball.

(5) If a (two) or (four) comes up, the one at bat will put his disk onthe Black Line 17 at the home plate, and will try to shoot it with theuse of cue 21 to rest on the yellow spots marked out on the playingfield 1, 2', 3', 4', these are the base hits. If the disk stops so thatno other color shows in the middle of the disk than yellow it is a hit.Three strikes is out. Four balls is a walk.

Where the disk stops (1) If the `disk stops on the red 3, 4, 6, 8, 10,12, 19, 20 or even shows in the middle of disk the batter is out. Thismeans the ball was caught.

(2) If the disk stops on Green 26 the fielder will shoot it from whereit stops to pocket 16 (first base). If he puts it in the pocket thebatter is out, but if he doesnt the batter is safe; it will be called ahit, not an error. It will be like the play was too slow.

(3) If the disk stops so that Yellow and green show the fielder can playon it 'but only one base not a double play. (Example), if the hit is onyellow marked (one), the fielder will play it to the rst base pocket 16.If the yellow is marked (two) it will be played in the second basepocket 16 to make the out.

(4) If the batter puts the disk in the pocket he is out.

(5) If the batter makes the `disk y off the board he is out.

Foul balls (l) If the disk stops behind the foul line 14. (2) If thedisk stops on the foul line it must be half to be called a foul ball.

Stolen base If the one throwing the die 25 makes it roll 01T the boardon the fioor one base will be stolen, either from first to second orsecond to third, or from third to home.

(2) If the one throwing the die makes it roll in one of the pockets 16it will be the same as off the board.

(3) If no one is on base and the above happens the Ibatter will takefirst base, like the batter was hit with the ball.

Errors made (l) If the one fielding the ball makes it liy oft` the boardwhen trying to put it in one of the pockets to make an out, it will bean error.

(2) If when shooting first base 16 to make an out he misses and theIdisk stops on one of the red spots 12 behind the foul line it is anerror and in either case the batter 24 will go second.

(3) If when the play is made at second `base pocket, he misses, and thedisk goes as far as the red strip 10, or farther, its an error, therunner will go third, and if it stops on red behind the foul line hewill go home.

How plays are made (l) If the man is on a base and a hit is made he willadvance as to what the base hit was; if it was one base hit he will takeone base, etc.

(2) If a man is on third and a hit is made on red and it is to the farside of the board he can say I am going home, and the one fielding it,must try to put it in home pocket 16. If he does he will be out, if notits a run. This is called a sacrifice hit.

(3) When the disk stops on green 26 it means the ball is still in playand bases can be advanced if the runner says he is going, and before thefielder plays on it.

(4) If a man 24, is on first and one on second and the 'batter hits sothe disk stops on the two base, hit 13, the one without any red aroundit, and green shows in the middle, the one fielding it will have toshoot the disk t0 second. The man 24 that was on second will go home,and the one that was on first will go third. If the pocket is missed itwill be a two base hit, if not, the batter is out. The reason for this:The batter has tried to make it a two base hit, he cant say I stay onfirst, he attempted a two base hit. The other runners get the benefit asthough it was a double, but he can be put out.

Double plays l) If a man is on first base and the batter hits the diskso it stops on green, it will be played first to the second base andthen to the first base. This is done by shooting the disk in the secondbase pocket then take it out and set it on the right side of the pocketon base line to third base.

(2) When the pocket is missed the play stops. It means the play was tooslow.

(3) Another point is, if a number are playing, and a double play is tobe made, the shot to the first base will be done by another fielder,same as in baseball.

(4) No double play can be made when the batter shoots the disk so thatpart green and yellow shows in the middle, it will be played to baseindicated on yellow.

(5) If a man is on first base and one on second base, and the battershoots the disk and it stops on green and is within six inches of thirdbase pocket it may be played as a triple play.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to thefollowing claims. l claim:

1. In a baseball game apparatus;

a hollow square frame defining a fence enclosure;

a square board peripherally secured within said frame spaced below itsupper edge defining a playing field;

a die adapted for manual rolling over said board by a pitcher todetermine nature of a thrown ball, including strikes, balls and hits,respectively;

an apertured disc slidably mounted on said board starting yfrom abatting area on said board;

a cue alternately used by offensive and defensive players for slidingsaid disc;

indica upon one corner of said board defining a diamond with foul lines;

there being a series of spaced depressions in said board around saiddiamond at the corners thereof indicating home, and rst, second andthird bases;

and a three dimensional character selectively positioned at any of saiddepressions deiining bases to designate position of a base runner.

2. In the baseball game apparatus of claim 1, said board having a greencoloring applied thereto to designate the infield and outfield;

there being an L-shaped strip colored yellow on said `board 'adjacentand outwardly of the infield dening a base -hit area if the disc stopsthereover;

there being an L-shaped strip colored red on said board spaced outwardlyfrom and generally parallel to said first strip;

there being a second L-shaped strip colored red spaced outwardly of thefirst red L-shaped strip and extending along and adjacent said frame;

said red colored strips defining batter out areas if any portion thereofshows through said disc.

3. In the baseball game apparatus of claim 2;

there being a plurality of spaced oval shaped areas of different size onsaid board colored yellow with indicia to designate bunts, one, two,three and four base hits, if the disc stops thereover;

and colored red to designate a caught ily if the disc stops thereover.

`4. In the `'baseball game apparatus of claim 3;

there being peripheral borders colored red extending around some of theoval shaped areas colored yellow, to designate out if the red showsthrough a batted" disc,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,037 12/1919 ramble 273-931,412,960 4/1922 Pepper 275-88 1,508,117 9/1924 Niemeyer 278-881,546,449 7/1925 Lavery 273-88 2,251,724 8/1941 Vogel 273-90 2,980,4274/1961 Cmgg 273-90 3,148,882 9/1964 Zimmerman 273-129 XR RICHARD C.PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

PAUL E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR.

